Heat exchange apparatus



Jan. 1, 1935. F Q SLAGEL 1,986,377

` HEAT EXCHANGE APPARATUS Filed May 15, 1931 Patented Jan. 1, 1935 EXCHANGE APPARATUS Franklin G. Slagel, Buffalo, N. Y., assigner tol Fedders Manufacturing Company, Inc., Buffalo, N. Y., a corporation` of New York Application May 15, 1931, Serial No. 537,725

` 2 claims. (C1. 62,-141) a cooling unit, forming a part of a mechanical refrigerating system, which includes a heat transfer surface for maintaining a low tempera` ture in a storage compartment and a direct heat absorbing contact with a portion of a fluid dispensing system.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawing, which forms a part of the specilication, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view showing the cooling unit incorporating my invention housed in a storage compartment.

Fig. 2 is another vertical sectional view through a fragment of the compartment showing a fragment of the unit in plan.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the fluid cooling portion of the unit.

Referring now to the drawing by characters of reference, 10 represents a cylindrical form of evaporator, or header, and 11 another cylindrical evaporator or vessel. The header is arranged preferably in a horizontal plane axially, while the vessel extends axially in a vertical plane, or normal to the header, and at one end thereof in a plane therebelow. Outlet conduits 12 connect the adjacent ends of the evaporators and serve as a refrigerant outlet for the vessel, while another conduit 13 extends from the same end of the header into the bottom portion of the vessel, serving as a refrigerant inlet.

The evaporators are of the type in which a predetermined quantity of liquid refrigerant is maintained, and automatic control means is arranged within the header. One end of the header is formed by a plate 14 through which a refrigerant return conduit 15 extends, such conduit extending to a compressor (not shown). An inlet refrigerant conduit 16 is connected with the plate by a union 1'7, and such union communicates with a passage through the lower portion of ithe plate in which a removable valve 'seat 18 is arranged.

Associated with the valve seat is aneedle valve 19 which is actuated by an open float 20 located within the header. The iloat is pivotally mounted on the boss 22 which projects inwardly from the plate. The float rises and falls with the level of the liquid refrigerant in the header and in its movement actuates the valve to admit liquid refrigerant from the intake conduit and thereby maintain a substantially constant amount of liquid refrigerant in the cooling apparatus. The refrigerant gas rising above the liquid level in the header moves out through the return conduit 15, the open end of which extends into the open oat.

Tubing through which fluid moves in passing to a dispensing counter or fountain, such as ginger ale or soda, extends through the Vessel 11, and such tubing in the vessel is in the form of two coils 23 and 24. The tubing preferably extends through the plate 25 forming the upper end of i the vessel, the inlet end of the coil 23 being indicated at 26 and the outlet end at 27. The inlet end of the coil 24 is indicated at 28 while the outlet end thereof is indicated at 29. The liquid refrigerant from the header 10 flows into the evaporator 1l and substantially fills the same, and refrigerant gas in the evaporator 11 returns to the gas space in the header 10 through the Vconduits 12. It will thus be seen that the coils containing fluid to be dispensed are entirely suberably arranged to extend in a plane beneath and having their legs parallel with the header 10, the bottom loopleg having its end below the vessel and communicating with the lower end thereof. The tube loops thus form a part of the cooling apparatus and together with the evaporators form a compact structure which is adapted to be placed in a bottle storage, or cold compartment 32. The tube loops are filled with liquid refrigerant, being in open communication with the vessel, and gaseous refrigerant travels therefrom into the vessel.

In order to increase the heat transfer surface of the cooling apparatus, I provide a plurality of parallel spaced fins plates 33 which are arranged transversely of andin intimate contact with the legs of the tube loops. tube loops and are preferably of a size that they will extend in a plane'beneath the header.

Frame members 34 and 35 are secured across the top and bottom edges `of the nplates to add ruggedness to the structure and to secure the These plates traverse both plates in position. The apparatus is supported by the ns which rest on the lower frame member, and iixed to such lower frame member for supporting the bottom of the vessel 11 is a standard 36. The top frame member has upstanding flanges 37 which are fixed to the header by suitable means such as welding.

It will be seen that the cooling apparatus, herein described, is rugged, compact and adapted to cool a compartment as Well as fluid dispensing tubing.

Although this invention has been described in connection with certain specific embodiments, the principles involved are susceptible of numerous other applications which will readily occur to persons skilled in the art, and the invention is therefore to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a mechanical refrigerating apparatus, a header of the flooded type, a vessel at one end of the header in a plane therebelow, a fluid dispensing coil enclosed in the Vessel and having input and output portions extending through the vessel, a refrigerant outlet conduit between the top of the Vessel and the top portion of the header, and a refrigerant conduit between the lower portion of the header and the lower inner portion of the vessel, said vessel beingsubstantially lled with liquid refrigerant.

2. In a mechanical refrigerating apparatus comprising a header, liquid level control means in the header, a conduit communicating with the header and formed with a plurality of loops, said conduit having fins thereon and being adapted to cool the ambient air in a storage room, a second header interposed in said conduit below the level of the first header, and a liquid dispensing coil enclosed in the second header and having input and output portions extending therethrough.

FRANKLIN G.' SLAGEL. 

